Augmented reality anamorphosis system

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, devices, and media for anamorphosis systems to generate and cause display of anamorphic media are disclosed. In one embodiment, an anamorphosis system is configured to identify a set of features of a space, determine relative positions of the set of features, determine a perspective of the mobile device within the space based on the relative positions of the set of features, retrieve anamorphic media based on the location of the mobile device, and apply the anamorphic media to a presentation of the space at the mobile device. The anamorphic media may include media items such as images and videos, configured such that the media items are only visible from one or more specified perspectives. The anamorphic media may include a stylized text string projected onto surfaces of a space such that the stylized text string is correctly displayed when viewed through a user device from a specified perspective.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/277,626, filed Feb. 15, 2019,which application is a continuation of and claims the benefit ofpriority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/436,363, filed on Feb.17, 2017, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,319,149, which applications arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to mobilecomputing technology and, more particularly, but not by way oflimitation, to the presentation of augmented and virtual realitydisplays.

BACKGROUND

Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical,real-world environment whose elements are supplemented, or “augmented,”by a computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, orthe like. As a result, the technology functions to enhance a user'sperception of reality.

Anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring theviewer to use a special device or occupy a special vantage point (orboth) to reconstitute an image. Anamorphic media may be generatedthrough a process of greatly distorting an image only to have itrevealed either from a single vantage point or from its reflection on amirrored surface. For example, artists have created anamorphic art atphysical locations, wherein the anamorphic art is only viewable from asingle perspective, and appears distorted from all other vantage points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, themost significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to thefigure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a networkin accordance with some embodiments, wherein the messaging systemincludes an augmented reality anamorphosis system.

FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating further details regarding amessaging system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data that may be stored inthe database of the messaging server system, according to certainexample embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message,according to some embodiments, generated by a messaging clientapplication for communication.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example access-limitingprocess, in terms of which access to content (e.g., an ephemeralmessage, and associated multimedia payload of data) or a contentcollection (e.g., an ephemeral message story) may be time-limited (e.g.,made ephemeral) in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating various modules of ananamorphosis system, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating various operations of theanamorphosis system in generating and causing display of anamorphicmedia within a presentation of a space at a graphical user interface(GUI), according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating various operations of the anamorphosissystem in causing display of anamorphic media in a presentation of aspace, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating various operations of theanamorphosis system in retrieving anamorphic media to be displayed in apresentation of a space, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 10 is an example of anamorphic media displayed in a presentation ofa space, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 11 is an example of anamorphic media displayed in a presentation ofa space, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 12 is an example of anamorphic media displayed in a presentation ofa space, according to certain example embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a representative softwarearchitecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described and used to implement variousembodiments.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific example embodiments forcarrying out the inventive subject matter of the present disclosure. Inthe following description, specific details are set forth in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. It shall beappreciated that embodiments may be practiced without some or all ofthese specific details.

Disclosed are anamorphosis systems to generate and cause display ofanamorphic media (e.g., distorted text or other anamorphically distortedimages) within a presentation of a space (e.g., a room or a definedenvironment). The anamorphosis systems are configured to identify a setof features of a space (e.g., walls and objects), determine relativepositions of the set of features, determine a perspective of the mobiledevice within the space based on the relative positions of the set offeatures in the space, retrieve anamorphic media based on the locationof the mobile device, and apply the anamorphic media to a presentationof the space at the mobile device. For example, in a bare rectangularroom, an example anamorphosis system on a mobile device may use an imagesensor to capture one or more images of the walls of the room, identifythe walls and their relative positions, and then apply anamorphic textas an augmented reality addition to images output on a display of themobile device. The anamorphic text may, for example, be presentedclearly on the display when the mobile device is in one perspective(e.g., phone position) and displayed as distorted to the point of beingunreadable from another perspective (e.g., position of the mobiledevice).

Anamorphic media may include media items such as images and videos,configured such that the media items are only visible from one or morespecified perspectives. The anamorphic media may also include a stylizedtext string projected onto surfaces of a space such that the stylizedtext string is correctly displayed when viewed through a user devicefrom a specified perspective.

The anamorphic media may be generated through a process of distorting amedia item by stretching, expanding, splitting, projecting, or otherwisealtering the media item such that the media item may be revealed to auser from a single vantage point or through a viewing apparatus orsurface (e.g., a cylindrical, conical, or flat mirror). Thus, if theanamorphic media is viewed from a perspective other than an intendedperspective, the anamorphic media may appear distorted or unclear.

The anamorphosis system may include a video and image capture system toperform functionality that includes at least recording and presentingimages of a space, and a graphical interface configured to display apresentation of the space. In some example embodiments, to apply theanamorphic media to a presentation of a space, the anamorphosis systemgenerates a surface model of a space. The surface model of the space isa topographical representation of the space that includesthree-dimensional depictions of features, surfaces, contours, and shapesthat make up the space. For example, the surface model may include awire-mesh representation of a three-dimensional view of the space. Togenerate the surface model, the anamorphosis system may apply variouscomputer vision techniques to digital images and videos of the space.For example, the anamorphosis system may acquire, process, and analyze adigital image and/or video of the space to generate the surface model.

In further embodiments, the anamorphosis system may access a surfacemodel database that includes surface models of spaces, organized basedon geolocation coordinates of corresponding locations depicted by thesurface models. The anamorphosis system determines a location of amobile device (e.g., based on geographic position sensors), andretrieves the corresponding surface model from the surface modeldatabase based on the location.

The anamorphosis system identifies a set of features of the space todetermine a perspective of the mobile device. The set of features mayinclude distinguishing points or features such as contours in the space,markings, or other features that may be used as graphical markers. Forexample, the distinguishing points or features may include landmarks aswell as identifiable objects such as windows and/or doors. Havingidentified the set of features of the space, the anamorphosis systemdetermines relative positions of each of the distinguishing points orfeatures relative to one another. For example, the relative positionsmay indicate distances between the distinguishing points or features.The anamorphosis system thereby determines a perspective of the mobiledevice based on the relative positions of the distinguishing points orfeatures. The perspective indicates a representation of the spacerelative to the mobile device.

In some example embodiments, the anamorphosis system retrievesanamorphic media to be applied to the presentation of the space, basedon the location of the mobile device. In some example embodiments, theanamorphic media may only be available to one or more specified users(e.g., based on user identifiers). For example, upon detecting a mobiledevice at a location the anamorphosis system may retrieve an anamorphicmedia assigned to the location based on location data coordinates.

Upon retrieving the anamorphic media to be displayed in the presentationof the space, the anamorphosis system applies transformations to theanamorphic media based on the perspective of the mobile device, anddisplays the transformed anamorphic media in the presentation of thespace. In this way, the anamorphic media may appear differently based onthe perspective of the mobile device.

Consider an illustrative example from a user perspective. A user of amobile device causes display of a space corresponding to a currentlocation of the mobile device (e.g., the user points a camera of themobile device at a space adjacent to them). Based on location dataretrieved from the mobile device, the anamorphosis system determines thelocation of the mobile device, and in response retrieves correspondinganamorphic media to be displayed in the presentation of the space. Theanamorphosis system receives a set of features of the space and relativepositions of the set of features within the space from the mobiledevice, and determines a perspective of the mobile device based on theset of features and the relative positions. The anamorphosis systemthereby applies a transformation to the anamorphic media based on theperspective of the mobile device. The anamorphosis system displays thetransformed anamorphic media in the presentation of the space, forviewing by the user. As the user moves within the space, theanamorphosis system recalculates the perspective of the user, andupdates the display of the anamorphic media within the presentation ofthe space in real-time. Thus, as the user views the anamorphic mediaitem within the presentation of the space, the user may adjust theirperspective until the anamorphic media is correctly displayed.

In some example embodiments, users may generate and tag their ownanamorphic media to locations. A user at a location may generateanamorphic media to be displayed in a space, and assign the anamorphicmedia to a position in the space. For example, the user may specify theposition of the anamorphic media by selecting landmarks and/ordistinguishing features of the space, and specifying a viewingperspective of the anamorphic media. The anamorphosis system may storethe anamorphic media in a database to be retrieved at a later time.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network.The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102, each ofwhich hosts a number of applications including a messaging clientapplication 104. Each messaging client application 104 iscommunicatively coupled to other instances of the messaging clientapplication 104 and a messaging server system 108 via a network 106(e.g., the Internet).

Accordingly, each messaging client application 104 is able tocommunicate and exchange data with another messaging client application104 and with the messaging server system 108 via the network 106. Thedata exchanged between messaging client applications 104, and between amessaging client application 104 and the messaging server system 108,includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) as well aspayload data (e.g., text, audio, video or other multimedia data whichmay include or be used as anamorphic media).

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. Whilecertain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein asbeing performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by themessaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location ofcertain functionality either within the messaging client application 104or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, itmay be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology andfunctionality within the messaging server system 108, but to latermigrate this technology and functionality to the messaging clientapplication 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client application 104. Suchoperations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, andprocessing data generated by the messaging client application 104. Insome embodiments, this data includes, message content, client deviceinformation, geolocation information, media annotation and overlays,message content persistence conditions, social network information, andlive event information, as examples. In other embodiments, other data isused, Any such data may be used as part of or to generate anamorphicmedia in accordance with different embodiments described herein, Dataexchanges within the messaging system 100 are invoked and controlledthrough functions available via user interfaces (UIs) of the messagingclient application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 110 is coupled to, andprovides a programmatic interface to, an application server 112, Theapplication server 112 is communicatively coupled to a databaseserver(s) 118, which facilitates access to a database(s) 120 in which isstored data associated with messages processed by the application server112.

Dealing specifically with the Application Program Interface (API) server110, this server receives and transmits message data (e.g., commands andmessage payloads) between the client device 102 and the applicationserver 112. Specifically, the Application Program Interface (API) server110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that canbe called or queried by the messaging client application 104 in order toinvoke functionality of the application server 112. The ApplicationProgram Interface (API) server 110 exposes various functions supportedby the application server 112, including account registration, loginfunctionality, the sending of messages, via the application server 112,from a particular messaging client application 104 to another messagingclient application 104, the sending of media files (e.g., images orvideo) from a messaging client application 104 to the messaging serverapplication 114, and for possible access by another messaging clientapplication 104, the setting of a collection of media data (e.g.,story), the retrieval of a list of friends of a user of a client device102, the retrieval of such collections, the retrieval of messages andcontent, the adding and deletion of friends to a social graph, thelocation of friends within a social graph, opening and application event(e.g., relating to the messaging client application 104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications andsubsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an imageprocessing system 116, a social network system 122, and an anamorphosissystem 124. The messaging server application 114 implements a number ofmessage processing technologies and functions, particularly related tothe aggregation and other processing of content (e.g., textual andmultimedia content) included in messages received from multipleinstances of the messaging client application 104. As will be describedin further detail, the text and media content from multiple sources maybe aggregated into collections of content (e.g., called stories orgalleries). These collections are then made available, by the messagingserver application 114, to the messaging client application 104. Otherprocessor and memory intensive processing of data may also be performedserver-side by the messaging server application 114, in view of thehardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video received within the payload ofa message at the messaging server application 114.

The social network system 122 supports various social networkingfunctions services, and makes these functions and services available tothe messaging server application 114. To this end, the social networksystem 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph 304 within thedatabase(s) 120. Examples of functions and services supported by thesocial network system 122 include the identification of other users ofthe messaging system 100 with which a particular user has relationshipsor is “following,” and also the identification of other entities andinterests of a particular user. The anamorphosis system 124 providesfunctionality to generate and cause display of anamorphic media within apresentation of a space.

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to one or moredatabase server(s) 118, which facilitates access to a database(s) 120 inwhich is stored data associated with messages processed by the messagingserver application 114.

FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating further details regarding themessaging system 100, according to example embodiments. Specifically,the messaging system 100 is shown to comprise the messaging clientapplication 104 and the application server 112, which in turn embody anumber of some subsystems, namely an ephemeral timer system 202, acollection management system 204 and an annotation system 206.

The ephemeral timer system 202 is responsible for enforcing thetemporary access to content permitted by the messaging clientapplication 104 and the messaging server application 114. To this end,the ephemeral timer system 202 incorporates a number of timers that,based on duration and display parameters associated with a message, orcollection of messages (e.g., a SNAPCHAT story), selectively display andenable access to messages and associated content such as anamorphicmedia via the messaging client application 104. Further detailsregarding the operation of the ephemeral timer system 202 are providedbelow.

The collection management system 204 is responsible for managingcollections of media (e.g., collections of text, image video and audiodata). In some examples, a collection of content (e.g., messages,including anamorphic media, images, video, text and audio) may beorganized into an “event gallery” or an “event story.” Such a collectionmay be made available for a specified time period, such as the durationof an event to which the content relates. For example, content such asanamorphic media displayed at specific locations relating to a musicconcert may be made available as a “story” for the duration of thatmusic concert. The collection management system 204 may also beresponsible for publishing an icon that provides notification of theexistence of a particular collection to the user interface of themessaging client application 104.

The collection management system 204 furthermore includes a curationinterface 208 that allows a collection manager to manage and curate aparticular collection of content. For example, the curation interface208 enables an event organizer to curate a collection of contentrelating to a specific event (e.g., delete inappropriate content orredundant messages). Additionally, the collection management system 204employs machine vision (or image recognition technology) and contentrules to automatically curate a content collection. In certainembodiments, compensation may be paid to a user for inclusion of usergenerated content into a collection. In such cases, the curationinterface 208 operates to automatically make payments to such users forthe use of their content.

The annotation system 206 provides various functions that enable a userto annotate or otherwise modify or edit media content associated with amessage. For example, the annotation system 206 provides functionsrelated to the generation and publishing of media overlays for messagesprocessed by the messaging system 100. The annotation system 206operatively supplies a media overlay (e.g., a SNAPCHAT filter) to themessaging client application 104 based on a geolocation of the clientdevice 102. In another example, the annotation system 206 operativelysupplies a media overlay to the messaging client application 104 basedon other information, such as, social network information of the user ofthe client device 102. A media overlay may include audio and visualcontent and visual effects. Examples of audio and visual content includeanamorphic media, pictures, texts, logos, animations, and sound effects.An example of a visual effect includes color overlaying, or projectingan anamorphic media item over a presentation depicting a space. Theaudio and visual content or the visual effects can be applied to a mediacontent item (e.g., a photo) at the client device 102. For example, themedia overlay including text that can be overlaid on top of a photographor video stream generated taken by the client device 102. In anotherexample, the media overlay includes an identification of a locationoverlay (e.g., Venice beach), a name of a live event, or a name of amerchant overlay (e.g., Beach Coffee House), In another example, theannotation system 206 uses the geolocation of the client device 102 toidentify a media overlay that includes the name of a merchant at thegeolocation of the client device 102. The media overlay may includeother indicia associated with the merchant. The media overlays may bestored in the database(s) 120 and accessed through the databaseserver(s) 118.

In one example embodiment, the annotation system 206 provides auser-based publication platform that enables users to select ageolocation on a map, and upload content associated with the selectedgeolocation. The user may also specify circumstances under which aparticular media overlay should be offered to other users. Theannotation system 206 generates a media overlay that includes theuploaded content and associates the uploaded content with the selectedgeolocation.

In another example embodiment, the annotation system 206 provides amerchant-based publication platform that enables merchants to select aparticular media overlay associated with a geolocation via a biddingprocess. For example, the annotation system 206 associates the mediaoverlay of a highest bidding merchant with a corresponding geolocationfor a predefined amount of time

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram 300 illustrating data which may be storedin the database(s) 120 of the messaging server system 108, according tocertain example embodiments. While the content of the database(s) 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database(s) 120 includes message data stored within a message table314. The entity table 302 stores entity data, including an entity graph304. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table302 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects,places, events etc. Regardless of type, any entity regarding which themessaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognized entity. Eachentity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity typeidentifier (not shown).

The entity graph 304 furthermore stores information regardingrelationships and associations between entities. Such relationships maybe social, professional (e.g., work at a common corporation ororganization) interested-based or activity-based, merely for example.

The database(s) 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form offilters, in an annotation table 312. Filters for which data is storedwithin the annotation table 312 are associated with and applied tovideos (for which data is stored in a video table 310) and/or images(for which data is stored in an image table 308). Filters, in oneexample, are overlays (e.g., anamorphic media items) that are displayedas overlaid on an image or video during presentation to a recipientuser. For example, the overlay may include an anamorphic media itemdisplayed within a presentation of a space, such that the anamorphicmedia item appears to be projected over a set of three dimensionalsurfaces of a space, following the contours of the surfaces of thespace. Filters may be of varies types, including a user-selected filtersfrom a gallery of filters presented to a sending user by the messagingclient application 104 when the sending user is composing a message.Other types of filers include geolocation filters (also known asgeo-filters) which may be presented to a sending user based ongeographic location. For example, geolocation filters specific to aneighborhood or special location may be presented within a userinterface by the messaging client application 104, based on geolocationinformation determined by a GPS unit of the client device 102. Anothertype of filer is a data filer, which may be selectively presented to asending user by the messaging client application 104, based on otherinputs or information gathered by the client device 102 during themessage creation process. Example of data filters include currenttemperature at a specific location, a current speed at which a sendinguser is traveling, battery life for a client device 102 or the currenttime.

Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 308 isso-called “lens” data. A “lens” may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 310 stores video data which, in oneembodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 314. Similarly, the image table 308 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 302. The entity table 302 may associate variousannotations from the annotation table 312 with various images and videosstored in the image table 308 and the video table 310.

A story table 306 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a SNAPCHAT story or a gallery) The creation of aparticular collection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., eachuser for which a record is maintained in the entity table 302) A usermay create a “personal story” in the form of a collection of contentthat has been created and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, theuser interface of the messaging client application 104 may include anicon that is user selectable to enable a sending user to add specificcontent to his or her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automaticallyor using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom varies locations and events. Users, whose client devices havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via auser interface of the messaging client application 104, to contributecontent to a particular live story. The live story may be identified tothe user by the messaging client application 104, based on his or herlocation. The end result is a “live story” told from a communityperspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 400,according to some in some embodiments, generated by a messaging clientapplication 104 for communication to a further messaging clientapplication 104 or the messaging server application 114. The content ofa particular message 400 is used to populate the message table 314stored within the database(s) 120, accessible by the messaging serverapplication 114. Similarly, the content of a message 400 is stored inmemory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102 orthe application server 112. The message 400 is shown to include thefollowing components:

-   -   A message identifier 402: a unique identifier that identifies        the message 400.    -   A message text payload 404: text, to be generated by a user via        a user interface of the client device 102 and that is included        in the message 400.    -   A message image payload 406: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from memory of a        client device 102, and that is included in the message 400.    -   A message video payload 408: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102 and that is included in the message 400.    -   A message audio payload 410: audio data, captured by a        microphone or retrieved from the memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 400.    -   A message annotations 412: annotation data (e.g., filters,        stickers or other enhancements) that represents annotations to        be applied to message image payload 406, message video payload        408, or message audio payload 410 of the message 400.    -   A message duration parameter 414: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 406, message video payload 408,        message audio payload 410) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client application 104.    -   A message geolocation parameter 416: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 416 values may be included in the payload, each of        these parameter values being associated with respect to content        items included in the content (e.g., a specific image into        within the message image payload 406, or a specific video in the        message video payload 408).    -   A message story identifier 418: identifier values identifying        one or more content collections (e.g., “stories”) with which a        particular content item in the message image payload 406 of the        message 400 is associated. For example, multiple images within        the message image payload 406 may each be associated with        multiple content collections using identifier values.    -   A message tag 420: each message 400 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 406        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 420 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   A message sender identifier 422: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address or device identifier)        indicative of a user of the client device 102 on which the        message 400 was generated and from which the message 400 was        sent    -   A message receiver identifier 424: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address or device identifier)        indicative of a user of the client device 102 to which the        message 400 is addressed.

The contents (e.g. values) of the various components of message 400 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 406 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 308.Similarly, values within the message video payload 408 may point to datastored within a video table 310, values stored within the messageannotations 412 may point to data stored in an annotation table 312,values stored within the message story identifier 418 may point to datastored in a story table 306, and values stored within the message senderidentifier 422 and the message receiver identifier 424 may point to userrecords stored within an entity table 302.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an access-limiting process500, in terms of which access to content (e.g., an ephemeral message502, and associated multimedia payload of data including anamorphicmedia) or a content collection (e.g., an ephemeral message story 504)may be time-limited (e.g., made ephemeral). For example, an ephemeralmessage 502 may include an anamorphic media item which may be displayedfor a period of time specified by the story timer 514.

An ephemeral message 502 is shown to be associated with a messageduration parameter 506, the value of which determines an amount of timethat the ephemeral message 502 will be displayed to a receiving user ofthe ephemeral message 502 by the messaging client application 104. Inone embodiment, where the messaging client application 104 is a SNAPCHATapplication client, an ephemeral message 502 is viewable by a receivinguser for up to a maximum of 10 seconds, depending on the amount of timethat the sending user specifies using the message duration parameter506.

The message duration parameter 506 and the message receiver identifier424 are shown to be inputs to a message timer 512, which is responsiblefor determining the amount of time that the ephemeral message 502 isshown to a particular receiving user identified by the message receiveridentifier 424. In particular, the ephemeral message 502 will only beshown to the relevant receiving user for a time period determined by thevalue of the message duration parameter 506. The message timer 512 isshown to provide output to a more generalized ephemeral timer system202, which is responsible for the overall timing of display of content(e.g., an ephemeral message 502) to a receiving user.

The ephemeral message 502 is shown in FIG. 5 to be included within anephemeral message story 504 (e.g., a personal SNAPCHAT story, or anevent story). The ephemeral message story 504 has an associated storyduration parameter 508, a value of which determines a time-duration forwhich the ephemeral message story 504 is presented and accessible tousers of the messaging system 100. The story duration parameter 508, forexample, may be the duration of a music concert, where the ephemeralmessage story 504 is a collection of content pertaining to that concert.Alternatively, a user (either the owning user or a curator user) mayspecify the value for the story duration parameter 508 when performingthe setup and creation of the ephemeral message story 504.

Additionally, each ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral messagestory 504 has an associated story participation parameter 510, a valueof which determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message502 will be accessible within the context of the ephemeral message story504. Accordingly, a particular ephemeral message story 504 may “expire”and become inaccessible within the context of the ephemeral messagestory 504, prior to the ephemeral message story 504 itself expiring interms of the story duration parameter 508. The story duration parameter508, story participation parameter 510, and message receiver identifier424 each provide input to a story timer 514, which operationallydetermines, firstly, whether a particular ephemeral message 502 of theephemeral message story 504 will be displayed to a particular receivinguser and, if so, for how long. Note that the ephemeral message story 504is also aware of the identity of the particular receiving user as aresult of the message receiver identifier 424.

Accordingly, the story timer 514 operationally controls the overalllifespan of an associated ephemeral message story 504, as well as anindividual ephemeral message 502 included in the ephemeral message story504. In one embodiment, each and every ephemeral message 502 within theephemeral message story 504 remains viewable and accessible for atime-period specified by the story duration parameter 508. In a furtherembodiment, a certain ephemeral message 502 may expire, within thecontext of ephemeral message story 504, based on a story participationparameter 510. Note that a message duration parameter 506 may stilldetermine the duration of time for which a particular ephemeral message502 is displayed to a receiving user, even within the context of theephemeral message story 504. Accordingly, the message duration parameter506 determines the duration of time that a particular ephemeral message502 is displayed to a receiving user, regardless of whether thereceiving user is viewing that ephemeral message 502 inside or outsidethe context of an ephemeral message story 504.

The ephemeral timer system 202 may furthermore operationally remove aparticular ephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message story 504based on a determination that it has exceeded an associated storyparticipation parameter 510. For example, when a sending user hasestablished a story participation parameter 510 of 24 hours fromposting, the ephemeral timer system 202 will remove the relevantephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message story 504 after thespecified 24 hours. The ephemeral timer system 202 also operates toremove an ephemeral message story 504 either when the storyparticipation parameter 510 for each and every ephemeral message 502within the ephemeral message story 504 has expired, or when theephemeral message story 504 itself has expired in terms of the storyduration parameter 508.

In certain use cases, a creator of a particular ephemeral message story504 may specify an indefinite story duration parameter 508. In thiscase, the expiration of the story participation parameter 510 for thelast remaining ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message story504 will determine when the ephemeral message story 504 itself expires.In this case, a new ephemeral message 502, added to the ephemeralmessage story 504, with a new story participation parameter 510,effectively extends the life of an ephemeral message story 504 to equalthe value of the story participation parameter 510.

Responsive to the ephemeral timer system 202 determining that anephemeral message story 504 has expired (e.g., is no longer accessible),the ephemeral timer system 202 communicates with the messaging system100 (and, for example, specifically the messaging client application 104to cause an indicium (e.g., an icon) associated with the relevantephemeral message story 504 to no longer be displayed within a userinterface of the messaging client application 104. Similarly, when theephemeral timer system 202 determines that the message durationparameter 506 for a particular ephemeral message 502 has expired, theephemeral timer system 202 causes the messaging client application 104to no longer display an indicium (e.g., an icon or textualidentification) associated with the ephemeral message 502.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram 600 illustrating components of theanamorphosis system 124, that configure the anamorphosis system 124 tocause display of anamorphic media in a presentation of a space,according to various example embodiments. The anamorphosis system 124 isshown as including a location module 602, a presentation module 604, anidentification module 606, and an anamorphosis module 608, all, or some,configured to communicate with each other (e.g., via a bus, sharedmemory, or a switch). Any one or more of these modules may beimplemented using one or more processors 610 (e.g., by configuring suchone or more processors to perform functions described for that module)and hence may include one or more of the processors 610.

Any one or more of the modules described may be implemented usinghardware alone (e.g., one or more of the processors 610 of a machine) ora combination of hardware and software. For example, any moduledescribed of the anamorphosis system 124 may physically include anarrangement of one or more of the processors 610 (e.g., a subset of oramong the one or more processors of the machine) configured to performthe operations described herein for that module. As another example, anymodule of the engagement tracking system 610 may include software,hardware, or both, that configure an arrangement of one or moreprocessors 610 (e.g., among the one or more processors of the machine)to perform the operations described herein for that module. Accordingly,different modules of the anamorphosis system 124 may include andconfigure different arrangements of such processors 610 or a singlearrangement of such processors 610 at different points in time.Moreover, any two or more modules of the anamorphosis system 124 may becombined into a single module, and the functions described herein for asingle module may be subdivided among multiple modules. Furthermore,according to various example embodiments, modules described herein asbeing implemented within a single machine, database, or device may bedistributed across multiple machines, databases, or devices.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating various operations of theanamorphosis system 124 in performing a method 700 for causing displayof anamorphic media in a presentation of a space, according to certainexample embodiments. Operations of the method 700 may be performed bythe modules described above with respect to FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 7, the method 700 includes one or more operations 702, 704, 706, 708,710, 712, and 714.

Operation 702 may be performed by the presentation module 604. Atoperation 702, the presentation module 604 causes display of apresentation of a space within a graphical user interface (GUI) of amobile device (e.g., client device 102). The mobile device may include acamera that captures images of a surrounding area. The images maythereby be displayed at within a GUI displayed on the mobile device.

Operation 704 may be performed by the location module 602. At operation704, the location module 602 determines a location of the mobile device,wherein the location corresponds to the space displayed in the GUI. Thelocation module 602 may determine the location based on GPS coordinates,or in some example embodiments, based on the images of the spacecaptured by the camera of the mobile device. For example, the locationmodule 602 may determine the location of the mobile device based onimage recognition. The location module 602 may compare the imagescollected by the camera of the mobile device (e.g., client device 102)with a catalog of preloaded images depicting locations. Based on thecomparison, the location module 602 determines a location of the mobiledevice.

Operation 706 may be performed by the identification module 606. Atoperation 706, the identification module 606 identifies a set offeatures of the space. The set of features may include landmarks orother distinguishing features, such as windows, doors, wall outlets,identifying markings (e.g., a painted “X”), edges of walls, or the like.For example, the identification module 606 may employ computer visionand/or feature detection techniques known to persons of ordinary skillin the art, wherein the identification module 606 may collect image datathat include visual images (e.g., through a camera element of the clientdevice 102). In some example embodiments, the identification module 606identifies at least three distinct features.

Operation 708 may be performed by the identification module 606. Atoperation 708, the identification module 606 determines relativepositions of each of the set of features identified, based on relativepositions of the set of features. In some example embodiments, theidentification module 606 may determine distances between each features,and a position of each feature in the display. For example, theidentification module 606 may apply triangulation techniques todetermine relative positions of each of the set of features.

Operation 710 may be performed by the identification module 606. Atoperation 710, the identification module determines a perspective of themobile device based on the relative positions of each of the set offeatures. The perspective of the mobile device indicates a position andvantage point of the mobile device at the location.

Operation 712 may be performed by the anamorphosis module 608. Atoperation 712, the anamorphosis module 608 retrieves anamorphic mediabased on the location of the mobile device. The anamorphic mediaincludes images and video that may be displayed in a presentation of aspace, and which appear distorted unless viewed from a specific viewingpoint in the location.

In some example embodiments, the anamorphosis module 608 may access adatabase of anamorphic media that includes anamorphic media categorizedbased on location, and wherein each anamorphic media item is to beviewed from a specific viewing point at a corresponding location.

The anamorphic media may include an image to be displayed at a location,wherein the image is only discernable if viewed from a specific positionat the location. For example, the anamorphic media may include astylized text string wherein the text string is not legible unlessviewed from a specific viewing location (e.g., from a specifiedperspective), or in further embodiments, the anamorphic media mayinclude a video or animation that plays once the user views theanamorphic media from a specific perspective.

Operation 714 may be performed by the presentation module 604. Atoperation 714, the presentation module 604 causes display of theanamorphic media in the presentation of the space based on theperspective of the mobile device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating various operations of the anamorphosissystem 124 in performing a method 800 for causing display of theanamorphic media in the presentation of the space, according to certainexample embodiments. Operations of the method 800 may be performed by emodules described above with respect to FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 8 ,the method 800 includes one or more operations 802, 804, and 806 thatmay be performed as part (e.g., a precursor task, a subroutine, or aportion) of operation 714 of the method 700, according to some exampleembodiments.

Operation 802 may be performed by the anamorphosis module 608. Atoperation 802, the anamorphosis module 608 accesses a surface model ofthe space based on the location of the mobile device, wherein thesurface model includes a three-dimensional representation of the space,such as a wire-mesh form.

In some example embodiments, the surface model may be generated by theanamorphosis module 608 based on computer vision. The surface model maybe a geometric representation that includes a three-dimensionalrepresentation of a space based on a set of vertices and edges thattogether form polygons depicting the space. In further embodiments, theanamorphosis module 608 may access a surface model database thatincludes a set of pre-generated surface models categorized based onlocation data.

Operation 804 may be performed by the anamorphosis module 608. Atoperation 804, the anamorphosis module 608 causes display of theanamorphic media in the presentation of the space based on thethree-dimensional representation of the space as depicted by the surfacemodel and the perspective of the mobile device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating various operations of theanamorphosis system 124 in performing a method 900 receiving anamorphicmedia, according to certain example embodiments. Operations of themethod 900 may be performed by the modules described above with respectto FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 9 , the method 900 includes one or moreoperations 902, 904, and 906 that may be performed as part (e.g., aprecursor task, a subroutine, or a portion) of the method 700, accordingto some example embodiments.

At operation 902, the anamorphosis system 124 receives anamorphic mediafrom a client device 102 (e.g., a second mobile device of a seconduser). In some example embodiments, a second user may submit media datato be converted into anamorphic media by the anamorphosis system 124.For example, the user may provide the anamorphosis system 124 with mediadata (e.g., pictures, videos), as well as location data indicating alocation in which to assign the media data, and positioning data toindicate a position to display the media data in a presentation of aspace corresponding to the location. The positioning data may include aperspective specified by the user, wherein the perspective may bedefined by relative positions of a set of features in a space.

Consider an illustrative example from a user perspective. A user mayprovide the anamorphosis system 124 with media data that includes amedia item such as a digital image or video to be converted anddisplayed as anamorphic media at a specified location. The user may taga media item with location data, and specify a display configuration ofthe media item in a presentation of the location. For example, the usermay specify that the media item is to be displayed so that it isviewable from a specific viewing location (e.g., based on location dataand a specified perspective of the client device 102). Upon receivingthe display configuration, the anamorphosis system 124 may apply atransformation to the media item in order to generate the anamorphicmedia. The transformation may include stretching, distorting, oraltering the media item, such that the media item may be projected ontoa surface of the space, and be visible from a perspective specified bythe user. For example, the anamorphosis system 124 may applytransformations to the media item such that the media item is projectedonto various surfaces on a space.

In some example embodiments, the second user may provide an input to theanamorphosis system 124 specifying that the anamorphic media is onlyvisible/made available to “friends,” or “connections” of the second userwithin a social media platform. In further embodiments, the second usermay specify that the anamorphic media is only available/displayed to afirst user (e.g., based on a user identifier of the first user).

At operation 904, the anamorphosis system 124 assigns the anamorphicmedia to the location based on location data such as GPS coordinates.For example, the user may provide the anamorphosis system 124 with GPScoordinates of the location and in response, the anamorphosis system 124may geo-tag the anamorphic media to the location.

At operation 906, the anamorphosis system 124 detects a client device102 of a user at the location. For example, the anamorphosis system 124may maintain a geofence around the location and detect a mobile deviceas the mobile device transgresses a threshold of the geofence.

At operation 908, the anamorphosis system 124 retrieves the anamorphicmedia in response to detecting the user at the location, and causesdisplay of the anamorphic media in a presentation of the space withinthe mobile device of the user. The display of the anamorphic media mayvary based on the perspective of the user.

FIG. 10 is an example of anamorphic media 1020 displayed in apresentation 1000 of a space 1010, according to certain exampleembodiments. The presentation 1000 may be displayed within a GUI at aclient device 102 according to the method 700 of FIG. 7 . As shown inFIG. 10 , the anamorphosis system 124 may display the anamorphic media1020 in the presentation 1000 based on a perspective of a client device102 displaying the presentation 1000. As the perspective of the clientdevice 102 changes (e.g., the user moves to a different viewinglocation), the anamorphosis system 124 may alter the display of theanamorphic media 124 based on the changes in the perspective.

FIG. 11 is an example of anamorphic media 1120 displayed in apresentation 1100 of a space 1110, from a first perspective, accordingto certain example embodiments. The presentation 1100 may be displayedwithin a GUI at a client device 102 according to the method 700 of FIG.7 . As shown in FIG. 11 , the anamorphosis system 124 may display theanamorphic media 1120 in the presentation 1100 based on a perspective ofa client device 102 displaying the presentation 1100. As the perspectiveof the client device 102 changes (e.g., the user moves to a differentviewing location), the anamorphosis system 124 may alter the display ofthe anamorphic media 124 based on the changes in the perspective.

FIG. 12 is an example of anamorphic media 1120 displayed in apresentation 1200 of a space 1110, from a second perspective, accordingto certain example embodiments. The presentation 1200 may be displayedwithin a GUI at a client device 102 according to the method 700 of FIG.7 . As shown in FIG. 12 , the anamorphosis system 124 may display theanamorphic media 1120 in the presentation 1200 based on a perspective ofa client device 102 displaying the presentation 1200, As the perspectiveof the client device 102 changes (e.g., the user moves to a differentviewing location), the anamorphosis system 124 may alter the display ofthe anamorphic media 124 based on the changes in the perspective.

Software Architecture

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecture1306, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described. FIG. 13 is a non-limiting example of asoftware architecture and it will be appreciated that many otherarchitectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionalitydescribed herein. The software architecture 1306 may execute on hardwaresuch as machine 1300 of FIG. 13 that includes, among other things,processors 1304, memory 1314, and I/O components 1318. A representativehardware layer 1352 is illustrated and can represent, for example, themachine 1300 of FIG. 13 . The representative hardware layer 1352includes a processing unit 1354 having associated executableinstructions 1304. Executable instructions 1304 represent the executableinstructions of the software architecture 1306, including implementationof the methods, components and so forth described herein. The hardwarelayer 1352 also includes memory and/or storage modules memory/storage1356, which also have executable instructions 1304. The hardware layer1352 may also comprise other hardware 1358.

In the example architecture of FIG. 13 , the software architecture 1306may be conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer providesparticular functionality. For example, the software architecture 1306may include layers such as an operating system 1302, libraries 1320,applications 1316 and a presentation layer 1314. Operationally, theapplications 1316 and/or other components within the layers may invokeapplication programming interface (API) API calls 1308 through thesoftware stack and receive a response as in response to the API calls1308. The layers illustrated are representative in nature and not allsoftware architectures have all layers. For example, some mobile orspecial purpose operating systems may not provide aframeworks/middleware 1318, while others may provide such a layer. Othersoftware architectures may include additional or different layers.

The operating system 1302 may manage hardware resources and providecommon services. The operating system 1302 may include, for example, akernel 1322, services 1324 and drivers 1326. The kernel 1322 may act asan abstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 1322 may be responsible for memory management,processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management,networking, security settings, and so on. The services 1324 may provideother common services for the other software layers. The drivers 1326are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlyinghardware. For instance, the drivers 1326 include display drivers, cameradrivers, Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communicationdrivers (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers,audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on thehardware configuration.

The libraries 1320 provide a common infrastructure that is used by theapplications 1316 and/or other components and/or layers. The libraries1320 provide functionality that allows other software components toperform tasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with theunderlying operating system 1302 functionality (e.g., kernel 1322,services 1324 and/or drivers 1326). The libraries 1320 may includesystem libraries 1344 (e.g., C standard library) that may providefunctions such as memory allocation functions, string manipulationfunctions, mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, thelibraries 1320 may include API libraries 1346 such as media libraries(e.g., libraries to support presentation and manipulation of variousmedia format such as MPREG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphicslibraries (e.g., an OpenGL framework that may be used to render 2D and3D in a graphic content on a display), database libraries (e.g., SQLitethat may provide various relational database functions), web libraries(e.g., WebKit that may provide web browsing functionality), and thelike. The libraries 1320 may also include a wide variety of otherlibraries 1348 to provide many other APIs to the applications 1316 andother software components/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 1318 (also sometimes referred to asmiddleware) provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may beused by the applications 1316 and/or other software components/modules.For example, the frameworks/middleware 1318 may provide various graphicuser interface (GUI) functions, high-level resource management,high-level location services, and so forth. The frameworks/middleware1318 may provide a broad spectrum of other APIs that may be utilized bythe applications 1316 and/or other software components/modules, some ofwhich may be specific to a particular operating system 1302 or platform.

The applications 1316 include built-in applications 1338 and/orthird-party applications 1340. Examples of representative built-inapplications 1338 may include, but are not limited to, a contactsapplication, a browser application, a book reader application, alocation application, a media application, a messaging application,and/or a game application. Third-party applications 1340 may include anapplication developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software developmentkit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform,and may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such asIOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or other mobile operating systems. Thethird-party applications 1340 may invoke the API calls 1308 provided bythe mobile operating system (such as operating system 1302) tofacilitate functionality described herein.

The applications 1316 may use built in operating system functions (e.g.,kernel 1322, services 1324 and/or drivers 1326), libraries 1320, andframeworks/middleware 1318 to create user interfaces to interact withusers of the system. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systemsinteractions with a user may occur through a presentation layer, such aspresentation layer 1314. In these systems, the application/component“logic” can be separated from the aspects of the application/componentthat interact with a user.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 1400,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine1400 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions1410 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, orother executable code) for causing the machine 1400 to perform any oneor more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such,the instructions 1410 may be used to implement modules or componentsdescribed herein. The instructions 1410 transform the general,non-programmed machine 1400 into a particular machine 1400 programmed tocarry out the described and illustrated functions in the mannerdescribed. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1400 operates as astandalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine 1400 may operate in the capacityof a server machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 1400 may comprise, but not be limitedto, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, acellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device(e.g., a smart watch, head mounted device, VR goggles), a smart homedevice (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance,a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machinecapable of executing the instructions 1410, sequentially or otherwise,that specify actions to be taken by machine 1400. Further, while only asingle machine 1400 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also betaken to include a collection of machines that individually or jointlyexecute the instructions 1410 to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The machine 1400 may include processors 1404, memory memory/storage1406, and I/O components 1418, which may be configured to communicatewith each other such as via a bus 1402. The memory/storage 1406 mayinclude a memory 1414, such as a main memory, or other memory storage,and a storage unit 1416, both accessible to the processors 1404 such asvia the bus 1402. The storage unit 1416 and memory 1414 store theinstructions 1410 embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein. The instructions 1410 may also reside,completely or partially, within the memory 1414, within the storage unit1416, within at least one of the processors 1404 (e.g., within theprocessor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof, duringexecution thereof by the machine 1400. Accordingly, the memory 1414, thestorage unit 1416, and the memory of processors 1404 are examples ofmachine-readable media.

The I/O components 1418 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 1418 that are included in a particular machine 1400 willdepend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such asmobile phones will likely include a touch input device or other suchinput mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely notinclude such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/Ocomponents 1418 may include many other components that are not shown inFIG. 14 . The I/O components 1418 are grouped according to functionalitymerely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is inno way limiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 1418may include output components 1426 and input components 1428. The outputcomponents 1426 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and soforth. The input components 1428 may include alphanumeric inputcomponents (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumericinput components), point based input components (e.g., a mouse, atouchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointinginstrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touchscreen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures,or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., amicrophone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 1418 may includebiometric components 1430, motion components 1434, environmentalenvironment components 1436, or position components 1438 among a widearray of other components. For example; the biometric components 1430may include components to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions,facial expressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking),measure biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voiceidentification, retinal identification, facial identification,fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram basedidentification), and the like. The motion components 1434 may includeacceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensorcomponents, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth.The environment components 1436 may include, for example, illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment. The position components 1438 mayinclude location sensor components (e.g., a Global Position system (GPS)receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters orbarometers that detect air pressure from which altitude may be derived),orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 1418 may include communication components 1440operable to couple the machine 1400 to a network 1432 or devices 1420via coupling 1422 and coupling 1424 respectively. For example, thecommunication components 1440 may include a network interface componentor other suitable device to interface with the network 1432. In furtherexamples, communication components 1440 may include wired communicationcomponents, wireless communication components, cellular communicationcomponents, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth®components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and othercommunication components to provide communication via other modalities.The devices 1420 may be another machine or any of a wide variety ofperipheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a UniversalSerial Bus (USB)).

Moreover, the communication components 1440 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 1440 may include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components1440, such as, location via Internet Protocol (IP) geo-location,location via Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFCbeacon signal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Glossary

“ANAMORPHOSIS” in this context refers to distortions and transformationsapplied to a media items such as images and videos, such that the mediaitems appear normal when viewed from a particular point or through asuitable viewing device, mirror, or lens.

“PERSPECTIVE” in this context refers to a viewing angle of a user at aparticular location.

“CARRIER SIGNAL” in this context refers to any intangible medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine, and includes digital or analog communications signals orother intangible medium to facilitate communication of suchinstructions. Instructions may be transmitted or received over thenetwork using a transmission medium via a network interface device andusing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols.

“CLIENT DEVICE” in this context refers to any machine that interfaces toa communications network to obtain resources from one or more serversystems or other client devices. A client device may be, but is notlimited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digitalassistants (PDAs), smart phones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks,laptops, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any othercommunication device that a user may use to access a network.

“COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK” in this context refers to one or more portionsof a network that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, avirtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wirelessLAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of theInternet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), aplain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephonenetwork, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network,or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network ora portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular network andthe coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) connection, aGlobal System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection, or other typeof cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, the coupling mayimplement any of a variety of types of data transfer technology, such asSingle Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-DataOptimized (EVDO) technology, General Packet Radio Service (CPRS)technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology,third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourthgeneration wireless (4G) networks, Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE)standard, others defined by various standard setting organizations,other long range protocols, or other data transfer technology.

“EMPHEMERAL MESSAGE” in this context refers to a message that isaccessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be atext, an image, a video and the like. The access time for the ephemeralmessage may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access timemay be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient.Regardless of the setting technique, the message is transitory.

“MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM” in this context refers to a component, deviceor other tangible media able to store instructions and data temporarilyor permanently and may include, but is not be limited to, random-accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory,optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types of storage(e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and/or anysuitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers)able to store instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media,that is capable of storing instructions (e.g., code) for execution by amachine, such that the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the machine, cause the machine to perform any one or moreof the methodologies described herein. Accordingly, a “machine-readablemedium” refers to a single storage apparatus or device, as well as“cloud-based” storage systems or storage networks that include multiplestorage apparatus or devices. The term “machine-readable medium”excludes signals per se.

“COMPONENT” in this context refers to a device, physical entity or logichaving boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branchpoints, application program interfaces (APIs), or other technologiesthat provide for the partitioning or modularization of particularprocessing or control functions. Components may be combined via theirinterfaces with other components to carry out a machine process. Acomponent may be a packaged functional hardware unit designed for usewith other components and a part of a program that usually performs aparticular function of related functions. Components may constituteeither software components (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readablemedium) or hardware components. A “hardware component” is a tangibleunit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured orarranged in a certain physical manner. In various example embodiments,one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, aclient computer system, or a server computer system) or one or morehardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a groupof processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware component that operates to performcertain operations as described herein. A hardware component may also beimplemented mechanically, electronically, or any suitable combinationthereof. For example, a hardware component may include dedicatedcircuitry or logic that is permanently configured to perform certainoperations. A hardware component may be a special-purpose processor,such as a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an ApplicationSpecific integrated Circuit (ASIC). A hardware component may alsoinclude programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configuredby software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwarecomponent may include software executed by a general-purpose processoror other programmable processor. Once configured by such software,hardware components become specific machines (or specific components ofa machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and areno longer general-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that thedecision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations. Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or“hardware-implemented component”) should be understood to encompass atangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed,permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured(e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certainoperations described herein. Considering embodiments in which hardwarecomponents are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thehardware components need not be configured or instantiated at any oneinstance in time. For example, where a hardware component comprises ageneral-purpose processor configured by software to become aspecial-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may beconfigured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g.,comprising different hardware components) at different times. Softwareaccordingly configures a particular processor or processors, forexample, to constitute a particular hardware component at one instanceof time and to constitute a different hardware component at a differentinstance of time. Hardware components can provide information to, andreceive information from, other hardware components. Accordingly, thedescribed hardware components may be regarded as being communicativelycoupled. Where multiple hardware components exist contemporaneously,communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g., overappropriate circuits and buses) between or among two or more of thehardware components. In embodiments in which multiple hardwarecomponents are configured or instantiated at different times,communications between such hardware components may be achieved, forexample, through the storage and retrieval of information in memorystructures to which the multiple hardware components have access. Forexample, one hardware component may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware component may then, at alater time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware components may also initiate communications with inputor output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors.Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processorsmay also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a“cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS).For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a groupof computers (as examples of machines including processors), with theseoperations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and viaone or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an Application ProgramInterface (API)). The performance of certain of the operations may bedistributed among the processors, not only residing within a singlemachine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some exampleembodiments, the processors or processor-implemented components may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other exampleembodiments, the processors or processor-implemented components may bedistributed across a number of geographic locations.

“PROCESSOR” in this context refers to any circuit or virtual circuit (aphysical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor)that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g.,“commands”, “op codes”, “machine code”, etc.) and which producescorresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine. Aprocessor may, for example, be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aReduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a ComplexInstruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit(GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application SpecificIntegrated. Circuit (ASIC), a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC)or any combination thereof. A processor may further be a multi-coreprocessor having two or more independent processors (sometimes referredto as “cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously.

“TIMESTAMP” in this context refers to a sequence of characters orencoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, forexample giving date and time of day, sometimes accurate to a smallfraction of a second.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a memory; and at least one hardware processor couple to the memory and comprising instructions that cause the system to perform operations comprising: causing display of an image at a client device, the image comprising a set of image features that depict a landmark; determining a location of the client device based on the landmark depicted by the set of image features; accessing a surface model from a surface model database based on the location of the client device, the surface model comprising a topographical representation of the location; applying a transformation to media content based on the topographical representation of the location; and causing display of the media content at a position within the image based on the transformation.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: identifying the landmark based on the set of image features; and determining the location responsive to identifying the landmark.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifying the landmark based on the set of image features includes: receiving an input that identifies the set of image features; and identifying the landmark responsive to the input.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving an input that selects the media content from among a collection of media content.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving, from the client device, an input that specifies a display configuration of the media content; wherein the applying the transformation to the image data of the media content is based on the display configuration.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the client device includes a perspective of the client device, and the applying the transformation to the media content includes: applying the transformation to the media content based on the topographical representation of the location and the perspective of the client device.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformation includes applying a distortion to the media content.
 8. A method including: causing display of an image at a client device, the image comprising a set of image features that depict a landmark; determining a location of the client device based on the landmark depicted by the set of image features; accessing a surface model from a surface model database based on the location of the client device, the surface model comprising a topographical representation of the location; applying a transformation to media content based on the topographical representation of the location; and causing display of the media content at a position within the image based on the transformation.
 9. The method of claim 8; further comprising: identifying the landmark based on the set of image features; and determining the location responsive to identifying the landmark.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying the landmark based on the set of image features includes: receiving an input that identifies the set of image features; and identifying the landmark responsive to the input.
 11. The method of claim 8; wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving an input that selects the media content from among a collection of media content.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving, from the client device, an input that specifies a display configuration of the media content; wherein the applying the transformation to the image data of the media content is based on the display configuration.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the client device includes a perspective of the client device, and the applying the transformation to the media content includes: applying the transformation to the media content based on the topographical representation of the location and the perspective of the client device.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the transformation includes applying a distortion to the media content.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including: causing display of an image at a client device, the image comprising a set of image features that depict a landmark; determining a location of the client device based on the landmark depicted the set of image features; accessing a surface model from a surface model database based on the location of the client device, the surface model comprising a topographical representation of the location; applying a transformation to media content based on the topographical representation of the location; and causing display of the media content at a position within the image based on the transformation.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising: identifying the landmark based on the set of image features; and determining the location responsive to identifying the landmark.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the identifying the landmark based on the set of image features includes: receiving an input that identifies the set of image features; and identifying the landmark responsive to the input.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving an input that selects the media content from among a collection of media content.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the applying the transformation to the media content includes: receiving, from the client device, an input that specifies a display configuration of the media content; wherein the applying the transformation to the image data of the media content is based on the display configuration.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the location of the client device includes a perspective of the client device, and the applying the transformation to the media content includes: applying the transformation to the media content based on the topographical representation of the location and the perspective of the client device. 